Pegida supporters oppose an imagined “Islamisation” of western countries and want tougher laws for asylum seekers. A communiqué highlighted its ‘othering’ of Muslims as an existential threat, point 13 loosely translates as “PEGIDA is for the conservation and the protection of our Jewish Christian Occident culture!”

But Dresden’s Jewish community and others are vocal in their opposition to Pegida and call on citizens to join equally large counter-protests.

Others view the movement as a platform to air their political or social disenfranchisement. Yet, a worrying poll found 34 per cent believe Germany is going through a process of “Islamisation” and the Merkel government does little to assuage concerns around migration.

Wars in Syria and Iraq are fuelling asylum claims in Germany, which is expected to hit 200,000 in 2014 (up from 127,000 in 2013). Germany does more than any other country to assist those fleeing conflict zones.

Police are investigating a recent arson attack on three proposed asylum shelters in the Bavarian town of Vorra. Swastika graffiti suggests a far-right motive.

The right-wing Eurosceptic AfD (Alternative for Germany) is less hostile to Pegida. One of its leaders Alexander Gauland plans to attend the latest Dresden march. Gauland was quoted as saying: “We are the natural allies of this movement.”

The peaceful nature of Pegida’s protests mark a contrast to the violence at past HoGeSa events, which poses an additional problem when confronting their ideology. Another problem is the normalisation of a rhetoric that requires more than simple condemnation.

Counter-protests are a consistent factor that follow Pegida as 10,000 are expected to stand against their message this evening. Copycat protests are springing up in other German cities like Dusseldorf, which hold larger migrant populations than Dresden. A potential danger is the movement spreading nationwide and muddying the political discourse further rightward.

Update: The protest on December 15 drew 15,000 Pegida supporters and a 6,000 strong counter-protest marched under the banners “Dresden Nazi-Free” and “Dresden For All,” organised by church, civic and other organisations.